History of the Fan by George Woolliscroft Rhead : (full image Illustrated)

IT is, perhaps, a little singular that up to the present no work making any pretension to completeness has appeared in English dealing with that little instrument so intimately associated with both civil and religious life of the past, the Fan. Even on the Continent the literature of the Fan is exceedingly scanty. M. Blondel??s work, Histoire des ??ventails, published in 1875, is but sparsely illustrated, and is mainly based upon the researches of M. Natalis Rondot, whose Rapport sur les objets de Parure was undertaken at the instance of the French Government in 1854. An English translation of M. Octave Uzanne??s brilliant sketch appeared in 1884, and is unillustrated except by fanciful border designs; while Lady Charlotte Schreiber??s stately tomes and Mrs. Salwey??s Fans of Japan deal only with more or less isolated portions of the subject. These, together with Der F?cher, by Georg Buss, appearing in 1904, one or two illustrated catalogues and a few desultory magazine articles, form the sum-total of the Fan??s literature. This paucity of book material, and the general absence of information amongst individuals, is at once an advantage and a disadvantage. I have in dealing with this subject such benefits as the breaking of new ground gives; I have at the same time to contend with the difficulty of collecting information from sources so scattered, and in many instances so obscure.
To the works above mentioned, which indeed have been most helpful, it is only justice to add the admirable article on ??Les Disques crucif??res, le Flabellum, et l??Umbella,?? in La Revue de l??Art Chr??tien, by M. Charles de Linas; the sparkling and entertaining ??History on Fans?? by Henri Bouchot in Art and Letters for 1883; an excellent article on Chinese Fans by H. A. Giles in Fraser??s Magazine for May 1879; articles in various publications by MM. Paul Mantz and Charles Blanc; all these I have freely used, and gladly acknowledge my indebtedness.
But, since it is scarcely possible, in a subject covering such an extended area, to avoid inaccuracies of some sort, I must endeavour to forestall any possible criticism by saying that no pains have been spared to render the book as free from errors as may be. As to the line illustrations, they must be considered merely diagrammatic, and not in any sense realistic representations of the various objects.
I welcome this opportunity of making what is an unusually long list of acknowledgments of help received. Firstly, to my Publishers for their enterprise, the admirable manner in which the book is produced, and for their uniform courtesy. Secondly, to the many owners of fans, these including the most exalted personages, who have so generously responded to my invitation to lend their fragile treasures.
… London, 1909. G. Woolliscroft Rhead.
CONTENTS
THE ORIGIN AND USES OF THE FAN
FANS OF THE ANCIENTS
FANS OF THE FAR EAST
FANS OF PRIMITIVE PEOPLES
THE FLABELLUM AND EARLY FEATHER-FAN
PAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (ITALIAN AND SPANISH)
PAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (FRENCH)
PAINTED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES (ENGLISH, DUTCH, FLEMISH, AND GERMAN)
ENGRAVED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. PART I.
ENGRAVED FANS OF THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES. PART II.
MODERN AND PRESENT-DAY FANS
ILLUSTRATIONS
RINALDO IN THE GARDEN OF ARMIDA. Louis XV. H.R.H. The Princess Of Wales
A CONCERT. Dutch. H.R.H. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
LA DANSE, AFTER LANCRET. Dr. Law Adam
SEA NYMPHS. Italian. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, M.P.
THE RAPE OF HELEN. ??Vernis Martin.?? Lady Lindsay
CHINESE FAN. Filigree and Enamel. Mr. M. Tomkinson
CHINESE FAN. Red Lacquer. Miss Moss
HOTEI AND THE CHILDREN. By Kan??-Sh??-Yei, 1591. Mr. Wilson Crewdson.
THE TAMAGAWA RIVER. By Kan?? San Raku. Mr. Wilson Crewdson
CUT VELLUM FAN. Mr. L. C. R. Messel
FAN MOUNT. Bacchus and Ariadne. Mrs. Bruce-Johnston
PIAZZA OF ST. MARK. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts